Plan Canada Winter 2026 Issue
People’s Choice: Emerging Challenges, New Ideas, and the Future of Planning
What trends, challenges, and opportunities are shaping the future of planning? What innovations are helping communities adapt and thrive? What lessons from today’s work will influence tomorrow’s decisions?
Every day, planners play a vital, yet often understated role in shaping the spaces where we live, work, and play. Whether it’s accelerating housing delivery, creating climate-resilient neighbourhoods, improving transportation systems, or ensuring public spaces are safe, accessible, and inclusive, planners help communities navigate change and build for the future.
As the pace of change accelerates, the planning profession continues to evolve. New tools, approaches, and ideas are reshaping practice, while planners across Canada are finding creative ways to address complex issues and build more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous communities.
For this special People’s Choice issue, the agenda is yours. We are seeking articles that explore the trends, innovations, opportunities, and challenges influencing the future of planning and showcase how planners are responding to them.
Potential topics include:
- Emerging trends that planners should be paying attention to
- Reflections on how planning practice is changing and where it may be headed next
- New approaches to collaboration, engagement, and partnership-building
- Innovative approaches, tools, or solutions you are implementing
- Case studies highlighting successful responses to complex challenges
- Thought-provoking opinions or “hot takes” on opportunities and risks facing the profession
- Insights that can help planners prepare for what’s ahead
Whether you’re sharing a success story, a cautionary tale, a practical tip, or a bold idea, we encourage submissions from planners working in all sectors, communities, and career stages.
The leads for this issue are Rylan Graham PhD, RPP, MCIP and Alex Hallbom RPP, MCIP. We welcome early conversations about article ideas and would be happy to discuss potential submissions.
Submission Deadline: October 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT